BMC Meeting Disrupted Over Facebook Live, Sanitation Tender Dispute

The 45th general body meeting of the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), chaired by Mayor Sulochana Das at Ekamra Hall, witnessed heated exchanges over sanitation tenders, street lighting and alleged administrative irregularities.

The controversy intensified when Ward 37 Councillor Bandita Pal began livestreaming the proceedings on Facebook despite objections from the Mayor, Commissioner Chanchal Rana and other councillors. After Pal refused to stop the broadcast, several councillors staged a walkout. The Mayor then suspended her from the session under Section 114(5) of the Odisha Municipal Corporation Act, but Pal refused to leave the hall, questioning the legality of the action.

Pal also alleged irregularities in sanitation tenders, electrical works and street-lighting projects. She further claimed that land earmarked for a ward office had been transferred to a private builder through an undisclosed deal and accused the civic body of withholding important resolutions from the state government.

Meanwhile, BJD councillors protested over sanitation and street-lighting problems in several wards. Commissioner Rana said the sanitation agency tender process had been completed but was awaiting final government approval. The Mayor and Commissioner assured councillors that the issues would be addressed within 10 days.

The meeting also observed two minutes of silence in memory of Ward 4 Councillor Sukumar Sahu and discussed committee approvals, previous minutes and pending development projects. Mayor Das urged councillors to expedite unfinished work as their terms approach completion.